someone also mentioned that the E46 was 7-8 years and remarked that they thought the E9x life span was too short. the E46 was actually 6 years, 1999 to 2005, the E9x life span is 2006-2012, which is also 6 years.

e90 sedan/touring, MY 2006, MY 2007, MY 2008, MY 2009 (LCI), MY 2010, MY 2011, MY 2012. Thats also 7 years, however, if they decide to launch the f30 in 2011 as a MY 2012, it will shorten the e90 life-span to 6 years...

/math lesson

Also, no need in wasting your energy trying to explain things like temporary lighting or reflective tape on the mirrors. Someone will always think they are permanent, so I guess BMW is smart in doing that, it works on some people, haha...

e90 sedan/touring, MY 2006, MY 2007, MY 2008, MY 2009 (LCI), MY 2010, MY 2011, MY 2012. Thats also 7 years, however, if they decide to launch the f30 in 2011 as a MY 2012, it will shorten the e90 life-span to 6 years...

/math lesson

Also, no need in wasting your energy trying to explain things like temporary lighting or reflective tape on the mirrors. Someone will always think they are permanent, so I guess BMW is smart in doing that, it works on some people, haha...

Good post.

The M3 has only been out for two years Bmw wont cut it that short IMHO.

e90 sedan/touring, MY 2006, MY 2007, MY 2008, MY 2009 (LCI), MY 2010, MY 2011, MY 2012. Thats also 7 years, however, if they decide to launch the f30 in 2011 as a MY 2012, it will shorten the e90 life-span to 6 years...

/math lesson

Also, no need in wasting your energy trying to explain things like temporary lighting or reflective tape on the mirrors. Someone will always think they are permanent, so I guess BMW is smart in doing that, it works on some people, haha...

rofl, after looking at it closer, This is just an e90 with a crap load of body armor on it. Just look at it close, this is probably just a test of the chassis rather than the actual f30. Dont get too excited.

I'm suprised this has not been asked before but is it possible for someone to replace all the swirls on the car with just black using photoshop? The swirlies always distract from how it really looks but if someone replaced all the body panels with a black color using photoshop it may reveal different lines? Is it possible to do? Someone with some artistic go?

I'm suprised this has not been asked before but is it possible for someone to replace all the swirls on the car with just black using photoshop? The swirlies always distract from how it really looks but if someone replaced all the body panels with a black color using photoshop it may reveal different lines? Is it possible to do? Someone with some artistic go?

that's quite a tall order but i'm sure PS geniuses can do it. in any case both the front and back panels are concealing the final look.

Revealing new spy photos of the next BMW 3-series have landed in our inbox today. Despite only recently being facelifted, work is well underway in Munich to develop the next 3-series, due in a motorway fast lane near you in three years' time.
We weren't expecting to see a new BMW 3-series for a while yet, why now?

The new 3-series family – internally codenamed F30 – has been moved forward because of a slump in sales of the current model. CAR understands sales nosedived by 40% in the first six months of 2009, a cataclysmic drop which sparked change in Bavaria.

Hence the new Three project has been fast-tracked by a year, with a launch pencilled in for the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

Our spies in Germany caught this early car being towed on a trailer, revealing a little about the next 3-series styling. Strip away the swirly-whirly disguise, and we're told it will look quite different – despite being signed off by former design chief Chris Bangle before he retired. Also expect influences from new styling boss Adrian van Hooydonk’s 2007 CS concept.
So this is a cooking 3-series, not the M3?

You got it! We have, however, learned a fair bit about the new sporting saloon of choice. Gone is the 4.0-litre V8 from today's M3, replaced with a straight six twin-turbocharged unit with direct injection. The engine swap not only cuts emissions, but saves weight too. Power remains unchanged at 414bhp, but even sharper acceleration is promised thanks to an upgraded dual-clutch gearbox available only to M3 customers.
What about the rest of the F30 3-series line-up?

Further down the model range, the 3.0-litre inline six powerplant features a couple more times. The 335i makes a comeback, although it loses a turbo and power drops to around 280bhp to make room for a completely new car, the 340i. This one will have a pair of blowers, which help to muster 360bhp.

The other petrol engines will be four-cylinder turbocharged units displacing either 1.6 or 2.0 litres. High-performance diesels will also feature, with a 204bhp 323d and a 306bhp 335d appearing in the new 2011 F30 family line-up. BMW expects most models to be fitted with the optional eight-speed automatic transmission complete with stop-start technology.
How about a 3-series GT version, like the 5-series Gran Turismo?

We are expecting BMW to produce a 3GT, akin to the 5GT. There will also be another 3-series convertible, but not with a folding hardtop like the current car. In an effort to save valuable kilograms, a canvas roof will make a comeback for the new topless 3-series.

Other technology that may appear in the range includes optional four-wheel drive, mild hybrid power and maybe even a plug-in hybrid.

So, a strong line-up for the top-selling BMW. We'll look forward to seeing the lines under that disguise over the coming months...

At least the C-class is sold with proper tyres. I am sure BMW are looking closely at marketing the car in China. Maybe that is a good reason to include a space-saver spare tyre, and potentially ditch the runflats in some markets.

When you see the finished car which is pencilled in for Geneva 2012.
The 1er will debut in the summer of 2011 with the World Premiere @ the IAA in 2011. The 6er will debut @ Geneva 2011.

When you see the finished the car you will see the reference and the design elements previewed with the CS Concept begin to follow through on production cars.
If you look at the front end , you can see the relevance to the CS Concept especially with a shorter nose and a more shapely front end.
This prototype also reveals the look that will eventually take form with the eclipse of the double headlights replaced by a pair of LED eyes supported by a RR Phantomesque driving light as you can see this prototype has one single headlamp positioned lower than the indicator.
The rear will be familiar to the CS Concept with wrap around rear lamps.

The 3er sales are not as bad as they have made out to be with key markets still outselling both A4 and C-Klasse . But with the economic downturn we have seen (not only BMW) but a decrease in sales and especially in the 5er segment there has been customers who have downsized to the 3er in response. With the F30 all the characteristics that make the 3er will remain intact , such as proportions , taut lines and of course the driving experience. But with the details we can afford to be more adventurous , evolutionary design details work up to a point then they become boring and dated as time goes on , but the new 3er will retain the essence of a 3er but be more adventurous without being too radical to appeal to more customers.

The 3er Gran Turismo will offer a sporting shooting brake aimed at those who do not want the regular Touring.

rofl, after looking at it closer, This is just an e90 with a crap load of body armor on it. Just look at it close, this is probably just a test of the chassis rather than the actual f30. Dont get too excited.